Jefferson City bridge to close for repairs for four months

JEFFERSON CITY – The westbound bridge carrying Routes 54/63 over the Missouri River in Jefferson City will be closed for painting and deck repairs starting in early or mid-April for about four months.

The east bridge will remain open and carry two lanes of eastbound and two lanes of westbound traffic. Prior to the bridge closure, there will be some periodic single lane closures at night for preliminary preparation work.

In addition to the bridge closure, all access ramps from Routes 54/63 to West Main Street, the eastbound on-ramp from McCarty Street to Routes 54/63, and the westbound on-ramp from Route W to Routes 54/63 will be closed. Speed limits will be reduced on and near the bridge.

Patty Lemongelli, construction and materials engineer for Missouri Department of Transportation’s Central District, said motorists should start preparing for the closure now.

MoDOT wants drivers to alter their work hours or work at home if possible.

"We're continuing to narrow down the specifics on this project so we can provide motorists with as much advance notice as possible," Lemongelli said.

MoDOT has been working with the Jefferson City Police and Public Works departments on an incident management plan to ensure smooth traffic flow on both state routes and city streets during the closure.

Motorists are asked to be patient and allow extra time for their commutes, especially during rush hours, Lemongelli said.

"This work, though inconvenient, will allow us to properly maintain one of our most valuable assets and investments," Lemongelli said.

Lemongelli said the bridge would cost $100 million to replace if it is not properly maintained.

The eastbound bridge was built in 1991 and carries about 27,000 vehicles a day, while the westbound structure was opened in 1995 and carries about 28,000 vehicles a day.